Metatarsal correction indicator



Oct. 26, 1937.

D, R. SLATER METATARSAL CORRECTION INDICATOR Filed Sept. 17, 1956Patented Oct. 26, 1937 JNEEED STATES accuse PATENT @FFEQE 16 Claims.

The present invention is a bone caliper, more particularly a metatarsalcorrection indicator which, although designed particularly for use inthe preparation of arch supports of the type shown and claimed in myprior patent No. 2,036,- 890 of April 7, 1936, is not limited to suchuse; and it may be employed for the designing of other types of archsupports, for setting adjustments in shoes or to assist in theconstruction of shoes for particular feet, although, for reasons thatwill appear, it has not been devised as a form of shoe fitting machineor shoe sizer.

An object of the invention is to provide a metatarsal correctionindicator which is inexpensive to manufacture, yet strong and compactand easy to operate, and which will readily permit the adjustment andsetting of means to indicate accurately, for correction purposes,certain loci in the patients foot, notably the joints of the metatarsalarch. Another object is to provide adjustable means having portions orattached members to underlie the particular loci, such as themetatarso-phalangeal joints, of such character that they will be visiblefor fluoroscopic examination of the foot to show accurately the locationof the joints concerned.

The caliper comprises in general a base member over which the foot underconsideration may be placed, adjustable abutments at the sides and rearend of the base member for positioning the foot, indicia for foot-size,and means carried by or associated with the base member at its forwardend for indicating the precise position of the metatarsal arch or therespective positions of the metatarso-phalangeal joints, and means forsetting or securing the last-named indicating means in adjustedposition, for guidance in preparing the corrective article.

The device and its operation will be understood clearly by reference tothe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of my metatarsal correction indicator.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view along the medial line 2-2 ofFig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an arch support in accordance with myearlier patent, in the manufacture whereof the present device isespecially, but not exclusively, useful.

The invention, as embodied in the form illustrated in the drawingcomprises, in general, a bas -piate in} over which the foot underconsideration. may be placed, said base-plate having ametatarso-phalangeal portion and a heel portion; a pair of adjustableside abutments H and [2;

an adjustable heel abutment i3 located at the rear or heel portion ofthe base-plate, and adjustable members 54 at the front or metatarsalportion of the base-plate provided with means l5 for indicating loci'inthe region of the metatarsal arch' of the foot, for example themetatarso-phalangeal joints.

The instrument may be made of metal impervious to X-ray for caliperationby palpation, or it may be made of aluminum, wood or resinous materialpervious to X-ray for fluoroscopic setting or caliperation.

The base l0 may be or" plate form, as illustrated, or it may be ofskeleton structure; it is necessary merely that a foundation is providedover which the foot to be examined may be placed and with which may beassociated the movable parts which cooperate properly to position thefoot and to indicate, for correction purposes, the position of themetatarsal or similar joints concerned.

Where the base takes the form of a plate, as shown, the same is providedwith an opening it in the forward portion extending across the medialline of the base-plate; also with a longitudinal medial opening ll alongthe rear or heel portion. The purposes of these openings will appear asthe description proceeds.

The side abutments, which are for the purpose of properly centering andpositioning the foot on the base-plate and for indicating the width ofthe foot, may consist of bars or arms II, I2 of sufiicient height toaccommodate the sides of a foot, and are adjustable by suitable meanstoward and away from each other for Various sizes of foot. The arms IIand I2 are of such a length that when the fifth metatarsophalangealjoint of a foot placed on the base i0 is disposed opposite the end ofone of thearms,the foot will be correctly positioned longitudinally ofthe base. Preferably the bars forming the side abutments are adjustablesimultaneously. This may readily and conveniently be accomplished byvertically pivoting the side abutments, for example, to the top of thebase-plate. Onewayinwhich this may be done is illustrated in the drawingat the rear ends of the abutments, the base-plate being formed orprovided with upstanding pivot posts I8 formed at their forward ends E9to receive corresponding portions 26 of the abutment arms toaccommodating pivot pins or the like 2|. Preferably, also, the forwardends of the abutments are extensible to reach the joint of the greattoe, the device being thereby made adap ab e ior use tor either foot. Ass wn, the

block 13 and a pair of forwardly extending arms 21 pivoted to the blockat 28, said block and said arms together forming an articulated arcuateheel abutment along the medial line of the base, and serving to properlyposition the heel over the base. In addition to providing for adjustmentof the arms 21 toward and away from each other, the entire heel abutmentis slidable longitudinally along the base. The pivot block I3 is, forthis purpose, carried on or formed with a bolster plate 29 formedwith'or secured to a slide plate 30 lying mainly beneath and againstthebaseplate It and held in position, although slidably, by an overlyingcross piece 3| secured to the body of the plate 36 at or near the ends32 thereof. Thus by grasping the pivot block 13 the heel abutment can beslid longitudinally 'backand forth along the center of the rear portionof the base to accommodate the various foot sizes, e. g. h

1 to 12, and the latter are shown by indicia on the base and on theabutment, as shown in the drawing an arrow being placed at 33 on theabutment and a cooperating scale 34 on the base-plate.

In the embodiment illustrated, the movement of the arms 27 of thearcuate heel abutment toward and from each other about the pivots 28 isaccomplished by the provision of a narrow slide 35 having a finger-piece36 at its rear end and lying within a longitudinal central slot in thelarger sliding plate 30 and projectable forwardly beneath the crosspiece 3| and between the up standing strips 31 of the plate 30. To theupper sides of this slide strip 35 are pivoted as at 38 the inner armsof two links 39 the outer ends of which are respectively pivoted, as at40, to the under sides of the arcuate arms 21 of the heel abutment at ornear the ends thereof, It will be seen that as the slide 35 is movedback and forth by means of the finger piece 36, the arms 21 will bemoved toward and away from each other to accommodate variousheel-widths. The heel-width adjustment can thereby be accomplished bysimultaneous movement of the arms 27, and independently of thelongitudinal adjustment of the heel abutment. The heel-widths may beindicated by providing, for example as shown, an arrow 4| on the crosspiece 3| and a scale 42 on the slide, with which it cooperates. At itsrear end, the bolster 29 of the plate to which the heel abutment issecured may be coextensive in width with the sliding plate 35 properwhich lies beneath it and to which it is connected by the rear portionof the strips 31 of the plate, thus forming a slot or channel serving asa guide for the rear end of the sliding strip 35. 1

Simultaneous adjustment of the side abutment arms H and !2 may beaccomplished as follows: A narrow sliding frame 43 operable at its rearend by means of the finger piece 44 is arranged centrally of thebase-plate, and at its forward end is pivotally connected as at 45 witha pair of bent links 46 pivoted at their free ends as shown at 41 to theunder side of the abutment arms .II and I2, respectively. It will beseen that by sliding the frame43 forwardly and rearwardly along thebase-plate, the side abutment arms H and I2 will be moved toward or awayfrom each other to accommodate various foot-widths. The latter may beindicated by an arrow 48 on the sliding frame 43 cooperating with ascale of sizes 49 on the base 10.

The side strips 50 of the sliding frame 63 move longitudinally along theinner vertical walls of thebase-plate I0 afiorded by the cut-out portionH, and to support the forward end of the sliding frame 43 in position inalinement with the baseplate, a cross strip 5|, of length greater thanthe width of the opening i? may be formed or provided on such end of theframe. At the heel end, the side strips 5!! of the frame are movablethrough slots or openings beneath the bolster plate 29 of the heelabutment and in the sliding plate 36. To accommodate this construction,the rear assembly as shown in section in Fig. 2 may include,in additionto the bolster 29, the baseplate l0 which is flush with the strips 3'!of the slide plate and with the side strips 50 of the slidable frame 43,and the portion 30 of the sliding heel abutment plate which underliesthe baseplate lll,a strengthening cross-rib 52 which is formed with orsecured to the under side of the base-plate and slotted at its centralportion to accommodate the rearward movement of the sliding plate 36.The lateral edges of the underlying portion 30 of the sliding heelabutment plate extend beyond the side walls of the opening II, as shownat 53, the adjacent edges of the base-plate I6 thereby providing aguideway for the sliding action of the heel abutment which takes placeaccordingly between the under side of the cross piece 3| and the uppersurface of the laterally extending edges 53 of the sliding plate.

At the metatarso-phalangeal portion of the plate, the means [4 may takethe form of a plurality of longitudinally slidable fingers 54. Thesefingers are supported against the underside of the base, in theembodiment shown, by a crossstrip 55 underlying the base-plate H] andsecured thereto or formed therewith, and by independent clips 56. Thefingers are movable through openings or slots 51 in the cross strip 55;and the openings are preferably flared forwardly and rearwardly topermit rocking of the arms in the openings for lateral adjustment of therespective rear ends of the fingers. The clips 56 may'obviously be anytype of securing means which will accommodate the longitudinally slidingmovement of the fingers and also the lateral adjustment by rocking inthe slots 51. In the particular embodiment illustrated, clips in theform of set-screw clamps 56 are provided. Each comprises an angle member58 having a downwardly extending arm 59 slotted to receive looselytherethrough the outer ends of the finger l4, and a rearwardly extendingarm 60 provided with a downwardly and forwardly extending portion 6| toembrace and engage the under side of a rearwardly direct-ed lip 62 of across piece 63 formed on or secured to the upper side of the base plateI6 along its extreme forward edge. The arm 60 of each clamp is providedwith a threaded hole to receive a suitable set screw 54 the inner end ofwhich abuts against the upper surface of the cross piece 63. It will beapparent that by loosening the set screw the respective fingers may beslid longitudinally through the cross strip 55, while by sliding theclamps along the cross piece 63 the inner ends of the fingers can beadjusted to underlie accurately the particular loci or regions of thefoot concerned, for example the metatarso-phalangeal joints, and set inadjusted position by means of the screws. To facilitate indication ofthe loci, the means I may take the form of distinguishing buttons whichare formed on or secured to the rear ends of the fingers, and they arepreferably of metal impervious to X-rays, so that upon fluoroscopicexamination of a foot and the fingers 54 manipulated into adjustedpositions, the loci of the joints will be clearly distinguishable.

The indication of the position of the joints by the fingers 5t andspecifically by the buttons I5 facilitates the precise positioning ofthe independent pads 65 on the arch supporter 66 illustrated in Fig. 3,or will serve equally well for enabling the physician to design withaccuracy the corrective form of arch support of the usual type, and forthe setting of the adjustments in shoes, etc.

The use and operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoingdescription.

The foot for which an arch supporter is to be made, for example, isplaced over the base In with the fifth metatarso-phalangeal jointopposite the end of the outside arm II or I2 depending upon whether aright or left foot is being studied. This will properly position thefoot longitudinally of the base plate. The heel abutment is then movedforwardly into engagement with the heel and the arms 21 are closedagainst the sides of the same by moving the slide 35 rearwardly. The endof respective arm II or I2 on the inner side of the foot is thenextended until the end 22 thereof is opposite the firstmetatarso-phalangeal joint, the arms I I and i2 being closed against thesides of the foot by means of the handle 44. The foot having been thuspositioned by the side abutments II and I2 and the heel abutment I3, thefingers 54 are then moved longitudinally, independently, as may benecessary through the slots 51 in the cross strip 55 and laterally alongthe cross piece 63 for adjustment to such positions respectively thatthe metal buttons I5 will indicate by sight and palpation of plantarmetatarsal region, or by fluoroscopic examination, the exact locationwhere independent adjustment pads are needed to be made upon the supportmember or in the shoe. When such adjustment has been obtained, thefingers are clamped by tightening the set screws 55 in the clamps 56.

The foot is then removed and the length and width of the body of thefoot may be read on the scales 3d and '39 and the heel width on thescale These readings will indicate the correct size or number of theblank which is required for making the support for that particular foot.

The selected blank is then placed in position on the base IE! asdetermined by the adjusted abutments and is marked through the holes inthe buttons 55, thereby indicating on the blank the positions at whichthe correction pads should be attached.

While I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, it will beobvious that the construction is susceptible of numerous changes in thedetails thereof, and it is to be understood that the scope of myinvention is not to be limited to such details except as they may be setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base over which a footmay be placed, abutments carried by said base for positioning the foot,means for adjusting said abutments, and means associated with said basefor indicating the respective loci of the metatarso-phalangeal jointswith respect to the position of said abutments.

2. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base over which a footmay be placed, abutments carried by said base for positioning the foot,means for adjusting said abutments, means carried by said base forindicating the respective loci of the metatarso-phalangeal joints withrespect to the position of said abutments, and means for setting saidloci indicating means.

3. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base over which a footmay be placed, a longitudinal abutment at each side of the base and aheel abutment carried by said base in substantially the medial linethereof, said abutments serving to position the foot over the base,means for adjusting the side abutments toward and away from each other,means for adjusting said heel abutment longitudinally of the base, andmeans associated with said base for indicating the respective loci ofthe metatarso-phalangeal joints with respect to the position of saidabutment-s.

4. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base over which a footmay be placed, a longitudinal abutment at each side of the base, each ofsaid abutments being pivoted opposite the heel end of the base, meansfor moving the free ends of said abutments toward and away from eachother, a heel abutment carried by said base in substantially the medialline thereof, means for adjusting said heel abutment longitudinally ofthe base, said side and heel abutments serving to position the foot overthe base, and means associated with said base for indicating therespective loci of the metatarso-phalangeal joints with respect to theposition of said abutments.

5. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base over which a footmay be placed, a longitudinal abutment at each side of the base, meansfor adjusting said abutments toward and away from each other, an arcuateheel abutment carried by said base in substantially the medial linethereof, means for adjusting said arcuate heel abutment longitudinallyof the base, means for adjusting the arms of said arcuate heel abutmenttoward and away from each other, said side and heel abutments serving toposition the foot over the base, and means associated with said base forindicating the respective loci of the metatarsophalangeal joints withrespect to the position of said abutments.

6. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base over which a footmay be placed, a longitudinal abutment at each side of the base, each ofsaid abutments being pivoted opposite the heel end of the base, meansfor moving the free ends of said abutments toward and away from eachother, an arcuate heel abutment carried by said base in substantiallythe medial line thereof, means for adjusting said heel abutmentlongitudinally of the base, means for adjusting the arms of said arcuateheel abutment toward and away from each other, said side and heelabutments serving to position the foot over the base, and meansassociated with said base for indicating loci of themetatarso-phalangeal joints with respect to the position of saidabutments.

7. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base over which a footmay be placed, a longitudinal abutment at each side of the base and aheel abutment carried by said base in substantially the medial linethereof, said abutments serving to position the foot over the base,means for simultaneously adjusting the side abutments toward and awayfrom each other, means for sliding said h el abutment longitudinally ofthe base, means at the end of the base opposite the heel abutment endfor indicating the respective loci of the metatarso-phalangeal jointswith respect to the position of said abutments, and means for settingsaid loci indicating means.

8. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base over which a footmay be placed, a longitudinal abutment at each side of the base, each ofsaid abutments being pivoted opposite the heel end of the base, and anarcuate heel abutment carried by said base in substantially the medialline thereof, said abutments serving to position the foot over the base,means for simultaneously adjusting the side abutments toward and awayfrom each other, means for sliding said heel abutment longitudinally ofthe base, means for simultaneously adjusting the arms of said arcuateheel abutment toward and away from each other, means at the metatarsalend of the base for indicating the respective loci of themetatarsophalangeal joints with respect to the position of saidabutments, and means for setting said loci indicating means.

9. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base-plate on which afoot may be placed and having a heel portion and a metatarsal portion, asmaller plate arranged for sliding engagement with said base-platesubstantially along the longitudinal center thereof, a pivot blockmounted on said sliding plate, a heel abutment comprising said pivotblock and arcuate arms extending forwardly from said block and pivotedthereto, means for adjusting said sliding plate and its block along saidbase plate to accommodate various lengths of foot, and means forsimultaneously adjusting the said arcuate arms toward and away from eachother to accommodate various widths of heel; a-

pivot post on said base plate on each side of its heel portion,longitudinal foot abutment arms pivoted vertically in said pivot posts,and means for simultaneously adjusting the free ends of said pivotedabutment arms toward and away from each other to accommodate variouswidths of foot; means at the metatarsal end of said base plate havingsliding and pivotal movements with respect thereto for indicating forcorrection loci in the region of the metatarsal arch of the foot withrespect to the position of said abutments, and means for setting saidloci indicating means.

10. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base-plate on which afoot may be placed and having a heel portion and a metatarsal portion, alongitudinal abutment at each side of the base-plate and a heel abutmentcarried by said base-plate on substantially the medial line thereof,said abutments serving to position the foot on the base-plate; means foradjusting the side abutments toward and away from each other toaccommodate various widths of foot said means comprising alongitudinally movable member positioned substantially on thelongitudinal center of the base-plate and slidable along the latter, apair of arms pivoted to said sliding member at its forward end andconnected respectively to said side abutments, and a rearwardlyextending portion adapted for engagement by the hand of the operator foradjustment; cooperating foot-width indicia on said base-plate and saidsliding member; means for adjustingsaid heel abutment longitudinally ofthe base-plate, and means at the metatarsal end of said base-plate forindicating for correction loci in the region of the metatarsal arch ofthe foot with respect to the position of said abutments.

11. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base-plate on which afoot may be placed and having a heel portion and a metatarsal portion,longitudinal side abutments and a heel abutment carried by saidbase-plate, said abutments serving to position the foot on thebaseplate, means for adjusting said side abutments toward and away fromeach other to accommodate various foot-widths, a smaller plate slidablymounted on said base-plate substantially centrally thereof and carryingsaid heel abutment for longitudinal adjustment thereof for variouslengths of foot, cooperating foot-length indicia on the base-plate andthe sliding heel abutment plate, and means at the metatarsal end of saidbase-plate for indicating for correction loci in the region of themetatarsal arch of the foot with respect to the position of saidabutments.

12. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base-plate on which afoot may be placed and having a heel portion and a metatarsal portion,longitudinal side abutments and an articulated arcuate heel abutmentcarried by said baseplate, said abutments serving to position the footon the base-plate, means for adjusting said side abutments toward andaway from each other to accommodate various foot-widths, alongitudinally slidable member lying substantially along the center ofthe base-plate adapted to be engaged by the hand of the operator at anouter end for adjustment and provided with levers pivot ally connectingthe arms of said arcuate heel abutment to move said arms toward and awayfrom each other to accommodate various heelwidths, cooperatingheel-width indicia on the base-plate and said sliding plate; and meansat the metatarsal end of said base-plate for indicating loci in theregion of the metatarsal arch of the foot with respect to the positionof said abutments.

13. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base-plate on which afoot may be placed and having a heel portion and a metatarsal portion,longitudinal side abutments and an articulated arcuate heel abutmentcarried by said baseplate, said abutments serving to position the footon the base-plate; means for adjusting the side abutments toward andaway from each other to accommodate various widths of foot, said meanscomprising a longitudinally movable member positioned substantiallyalong the longitudinal center of the base-plate and slidable along thelatter, a pair of arms pivoted to said sliding member at its forward endand connected respectively to said side abutments, and a rearwardlyextending portion adapted for engagement by the hand of the operator foradjustment; cooperating footwidth indicia on said base-plate and saidsliding member; a smaller plate slidably mounted on said base-platesubstantially centrally thereof and carrying said heel abutment forlongitudinal adjustment thereof for various lengths of foot, cooperatingfoot-length indicia on the base-plate and the sliding heel abutmentplate; a third longitudinally slidable member lying substantially alongthe longitudinal center of the baseplate, adapted to be engaged by thehand of the operator at an outer rear end for adjustment and providedwith levers pivotally connecting the arms of said arcuate heel abutmentto move said arms toward and away from each other to accommodate variousheel-widths; cooperating heel-width indicia on the base-plate and saidthird slidable member; and independently adjustable means at themetatarsal portion of said base-plate for indicating loci ofmetatarso-phalangeal joints with respect to the position of saidabutments.

14. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base-plate on which afoot may be placed and having a heel portion and a metatarsal portion,means serving to position the foot on the base-plate, said means beingadjustable to accommodate various foot-sizes, means at the metatarsalportion of the base plate longitudinally slidable and laterally movablefor adjustment, and means on said sliding means for indicating loci inthe region of the metatarsal arch of the foot with respect to theposition of said foot-size adjustable means.

15. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base-plate on which afoot may be placed and having a heel portion and a metatarsal portion,means serving to position the foot on the base-plate, said means beingadjustable to accommodate various foot-sizes, fingers underlying saidmetatarsal portion, a transverse member on the underside of thebase-plate having openings adjacent the latter in which said fingers maybe moved longitudinally and turned laterally for adjustment of thefingers, means for securing the fingers in adjusted position, and meanson the inner ends of said fingers for indicating loci ofmetatarso-phalangeal joints with respect to the position of said footsize adjustable means.

16. A metatarsal correction indicator comprising a base-plate on which afoot may be placed and having a heel portion and a metatarsal portion,means serving to position the foot on the base-plate, said means beingadjustable to accommodate various foot-sizes, fingers underlying saidmetatarsal portion, means supporting said fingers permittinglongitudinal and lateral adjustment of the inner ends thereof in anopening in said base-plate, means for securing the fingers in adjustedposition, and means on said inner ends of the fingers for indicatingloci of metatarso-phalangeal joints with respect to the position of saidfoot-size adjustable means, said indicating means being impervious toX-rays.

DAVID RALPH SLATER.

